Safety appliance for boats.



F. c. FOSTER. SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR BOATS. APPLICATION FILED AUG.6, 19l4 1,138,629,, Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- P. O. FOSTER.

SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR BOATS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG,6,1914.

1,133,629D Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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Lam a: 72; ab 16% FEELING C. FOSTER, OF CHICAGO,' ILLINOIS.

SAFETY APPLIAIFTCE FOR BOATS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

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' Application filed August 6, 1914. Serial No. 855,384.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRELING C. Fos'rnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Safety Appliances for Boats, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improved types of safety appliances for boats, ships and the like and has for one object to provide means which may always be present and always available for preventing the sinking of a sea going vessel independent of the condition of the shell thereof.

It is illustrated more or' less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein v F'gure 1 is a perspective of a ship with my invention attached; Fig. 2 is a cross section through the ship; Fig. 3 is a plan View of the ship with my device attached arranged as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with parts omitted to show my device; Fig. at is a detail section on an enlarged scale of the safety device shown in Fig. 2; Fi 5 is a detailed section through a ship with a modified form of my device applied; Fig. 6 is a detailed section of one of the check valves; and Fig. 7 is a detailed section of one of the auxiliary bag filling valves.

Like parts are indicated by like letters throughout the several figures.

A is a ship having a continuous shell A Located in this shell above the water line is a series of substantially hemi-sperical pockets A which project back into the ship but separated from the interior by the continuous wall A which is a continuation of the wall. A Each of these pockets contains a collapsible bag A and is closed by a movable cover A Each bag is anchored at the bottom of the pocket at one point by a plate B through which passes the filling tube B and which is bolted through the bag as indicated at B to the wall A 13 is a relief pet-cock opening out from the pipe B and B is a check valve com-g municating with the pipe B B is a supply conduit leading to the check valve B from the supply main B.

B, B are air pressure storage tanks at the bottom of the ship and communicating with the main B.

B B are valves controlling the communication between the main B and the pipe B 13 are compressors discharging into the main B to the tank B to fill them with air under pressure.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 5 the hull of the ship is not indented but contains inside compartments Chavingahinged lid C which incloses the pocket C anchored to the compartment at C and adapted to be inflated as the pockets previously described. D, D are valve chambers arranged at suitable intervals above and in communication withthe main B. These valve chambers have at their upper end a valve sleeve D in which is a slidablyniounted hollow valve tube D with a conduit D terminating at the bottom in an elbow D. This tube is provided with a collar D and surrounded by a spring D which tends always to hold the tube in the upper position and hold the valve head 1) against the seat D and retain the elbow D within the sleeve I)? thus closing this valve. WVhen the stem, however, is depressed against the spring the head will leave the seat and the elbow will be open and air can pass out.

D", D are bags kept in the hull of the ship in a collapsed form adaptedto be placed over the end of the valve stem to be inflated when the valve stem is pushed down. These bags are provided with a formof check valve to prevent egress of air.

F is a latch pivoted on the door A en-' gaging a notch F in the wall A and provided with an arm F resting against the chamber or bag A in such way that the preliminary inflation and expansion of this chamber will force the arm outwardly releasing the latch to permit the door to open.

F 3 is a pin fixed in the wall A and slidably engaged by the groove F in the flange :1? which projects inwardly from the door F is a shoulder about the pocket' A engaged by and furnishing a seat for the door.

I claim: I 1. A safety appliance for boats comprising a series of pockets along the side thereof with a series of collapsible bags one in each pocket and movable closures one for each pocket hinged and provided with a latch, said latch adapted to be sprung by the bag gs it is expanded and means for inflating the 2. A safety appliance for boats comprising a series of pockets along the side thereof with a series of collapsible bags one in each pocket, a closure for each pocket hinged and provided with a latch, said latch adapted to be sprung by the bag as it expands'and means for inflating the bag.

l 3. A safety appliance for boats comprising a series of pockets along the side there of with a series of collapsible bags one in each pocket and movable closures one for each pocket flush With the side of the boat hinged and provided With a latch, said latch adapted to be sprung by the bag as it is eX- panded and means for inflating the bag.

4. A safety appliance for boats comprising a series of pockets along the side thereof with a series of collapsible bags one in each pocket, a closure for each pocket fiush -With the side of the boat hinged and pro- "ided with a latch, said latch adapted to be sprung by the bag as it expands and means for inflating the bag.

5. A safety appliance for boats comprising a series of pockets along the side thereof, a series of collapsible bags one in each pocket; means for introducing gas into the bag at the base Where-the air is introduced and a closure for each pocket flush with the side of the boat hinged and provided with a latch, said latch adapted to be sprung by the expansion of the bag.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses this 29th day of July, 1914.

FRELING C. FOSTER.

Witnesses:

BESSIE S. RICE, L. M. EISZNER. 

